As winter proceeds, the Middle East beckons - a time when the climate and a bewildering array of options for the luxury traveller combine to make it the perfect upmarket destination.
The king of these is Dubai and although it might be playing the numbers game with a plan to double tourist arrivals to 20 million by 2020 by building more three and four-star hotels, the coming months are a landmark for its luxury sector. Some brands conspicuous by their absence make their debut there in the next 12 months or so, acting as a magnet for those loyal to upscale hotel names.
